What to do on embarkation day

If you’re an experienced cruiser, you probably already have your own embarkation day routine down but for those of you that are new to cruising, it might take you some time to figure out how to make the most of your first day onboard. Luckily, these four cruise bloggers have shared their top tips to help you ensure your embarkation day is smooth sailing:

Check, check and check again! Taylor from Travel Colorfully told us why being prepared is so important, “Print out your boarding passes and luggage tags ahead of time so that the process of checking in is quick and seamless. Then, once you’re on board, you can relax and enjoy the wonderful holiday experience cruising offers.” 

“As you don’t get your suitcases until later in the day, quite often not until after you have sailed, I would recommend taking your swimming costume and a change of clothes in your hand luggage,” says Vicky from I Beat Debt. “This means that if the pool beckons, you can get straight in and if you want to freshen up before dinner, you also have the option!”

Check-in and security are prompt but that doesn’t mean you can afford to be relaxed with your timekeeping and arrival at the port. Heather from Of Beauty and Nothingness explains, “Make sure you arrive well before the required time - you might be able to check in and board the ship early.” It’s also important to make sure travel or car parking arrangements are in place well before your departure date. 

“Your first call on embarkation day should be to find your cabin and dump your hand luggage,” says Francesca from Gluten Free Horizons. “You can take time to freshen up after travelling, depending on where your cruise starts you may have had a flight or coach trip. One of the joys of cruising is that there is usually plenty of storage and more hangers if you need them. Get your suitcases unpacked as soon as you can, that way you’re free for the rest of the day and can hit the sack when you want on your first night.” 

Each ship is different, so even if you’re an experienced cruiser it’s worth wandering around to find out where everything is, as Francesca explains, “Suss out where you think looks good for breakfast, find a cosy spot to read a book, see where you can get a cocktail before dinner or dance the night away. Of course, there’s plenty of time to explore during your cruise but on bigger ships especially, it might take a few days to find the cool gastropub so it’s best to explore your surroundings early on!”